I IMAGINE Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd received the commission from Lord Mandelson to draw up a report on harnessing the tidal power of the River Severn by building a barrage to generate electricity.

They asked where was the River Severn, and when someone said 'in Wales' they decided he would do for the job. That person then went to his office to draw up the report and glanced at a map. Seeing Lydney and Coleford he decided they were major towns in Wales. He probably never moved out of his office and he then got out a coin and tossed it to help him write the report. The problem now is what is in his report, and where did he find his information on the River Severn?

Thankfully Parsons Brinckerhoff are not in the hydrographic office. If they were, where would we all be? – R B Shaw, Woolaston.